ἐπιστολ-ή,ἡ, (ἐπιστέλλω)
A. anything sent by a messenger, message, order, commission, whether verbal or in writing, Hdt. 4.10 , Th. 8.45 , etc.;ἐξ ἐπιστολῆςbycommand, Hdt. 6.50 : used by Trag. always in pl., A. Pr. 3 , Pers. 783 , Supp. 1012 , S. Aj. 781 , OC 1601 , etc.;Πενθέως ἐπιστολαῖς byhiscommands, E. Ba. 442 ;τέκνων ἐπιστολὰς ἔγραψεν commands abouther children, Id. Hipp. 858 .
2. .letter,ἐ. διαπέμπειν, ἀποδοῦναι, Th. 1.129 , 7.10 ; λύειν
Id. 1.132
; ἐ. ἔδωκεν ἀποδοῦναι
Lys. 20.27
;πέμπειν
τινί
E. IT 589
(pl.): in pl. of one letter, like γράμματα , Lat.litterae, Id. IA 111 , 314 , Th. 1.132 , etc.;ὁ ἐπὶ τῶν ἐπιστολῶν . . τοῦ Ὄθωνος, Lat.ab epistulis Othoni, hissecretary, Plu. Oth. 9 ;νομογραφικὴ ἐ. BGU 1135.7
(i B.C.).